Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness is a 58 square mile Bureau of Land Management property that offers opportunities for solitude as well as interesting primitive recreation for vacationers. This BLM land, located close to the Arizona State boundary with Nevada, west of Grand Canyon National Park, is easy to access via several highways and routes. Driving to the park is easy. However, it is recommended that you come in high clearance vehicles or four-wheel drives.
Recreational opportunities at Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness include sightseeing and nature observation, wildlife viewing, flora observation, and hiking. There are lots of places to visit around this BLM land to further enjoy memorable getaway experiences. Some of these sweet destinations include Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Toroweap Overlook, and Kaibab National Forest, among others.
Primitive and free camping opportunities abound within the wilderness. Make you come equipped with all you will need for the camping trip. The closest vehicle camping spot features campsites with picnic tables and composting toilets.
Even though the Colorado River carved the landscapes and natural features within the park in the past, today, the river lies about 20 miles south.
Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness can be accessed from various areas. If you’re coming to this BLM park from St. George, Arizona, access routes include Interstate 15, Hidden Canyon Road, St. George Canyon road, to name a few. From Mesquite in Nevada, this Wilderness can also be accessed via several roads. The park cannot be accessed from the south because of the presence of the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead.
If you’re coming to Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness and wish to explore the areas open to vehicle movement, then you should have high clearance and/or four-wheel drive vehicles. This is because the road conditions are known to change suddenly. Muddy areas should be properly tested before being driven through so you don’t get stuck in it. It is not uncommon for vehicles to have flat tires on some of the roads, so keep your eyes peeled for sharp objects and drive slowly.
Visitors who wish to make use of recreational vehicles and trailers will find rental services at Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument
There are no direct public transportation services to Grand Wah Cliffs Wilderness.
Tuweep Campground is a pet-friendly campground in the Tuweep Area, east of Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness. This campground offers nine small campsites that can accommodate vehicles and motorcycles, as well as group camps. This campground is the ideal place to enjoy watching the sun rise and set over the horizon.
Amenities provided in this campground include composting toilets and picnic tables. Potable water is not available, and fire/charcoal grills are prohibited.
If you are visiting this campground in your vehicle(s), ensure it is not longer than 22 feet. The road to the campground can be tricky, so drive with caution.
Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and no developed camping facilities are provided.
One of the most fulfilling things to do at Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness is nature observation. The beautiful landscapes and features that decorate this BLM property in Arizona offer wonderful sights for visitors and primitive campers.
Whether it’s the 12 miles of towering cliffs cut into two giant steps, or the shelf in between the steps that stretches up to three miles wide, you’ll find plenty of things to take pictures of. The elevation within the Wilderness ranges from about 2,500 ft to nearly 6,700 feet, so prepare yourself for an amazing nature viewing experience.
The cliffs, canyons and other beautiful lands at Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness provide perfect settings for fauna growth and the survival of a few wildlife species. If you visit the cliff areas, you’ll find that they are home to Gila monster, desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.
Flora enthusiasts will find a mix of shrubs characteristic of the Mojave Desert, as well as pinyon-juniper woodland characteristic of cold desert areas.
Within Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness, there is an 11-mile maintained trail that runs through the length of the Wilderness within a pinyon-juniper country. This trail offers rugged canyon hiking opportunities to guests who are experienced in hiking as well as those not so skilled.
Around the wilderness, several hiking trails are available for use by guests who wish to take their adventure outside the immediate areas of the path. Examples include Tuweep hiking trail and Tuckup trail.
You must not miss out on the visit to Desert View if you’re exploring this BLM land. This small settlement that lies east of the Grand Canyon is a popular and attractive place for visitors at Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness. A scenic road, Desert View Drive, leads to this refreshing destination.
Some of the attractions at Desert View include Colorado River views, a 70 ft. Desert View Watchtower, an American history museum, as well as cultural demonstrations and ranger programs.
Parashant National Monument is a wild and rugged land full of vast landscapes that feature desert cactus, tall ponderosa pines, soaring raptors, canyon walls, and many other beautiful natural elements that make it a popular destination among visitors at Grand Wash Cliffs Wilderness.
Another major attraction at this BLM wilderness is the unparalleled dark night sky viewing opportunity available. This primitive area, which has no designated trails, features numerous sites open to visitors for dry camping pursuits.
Toroweap Overlook is one of the most popular spots within the area where campers enjoy breathtaking views. This overlook sits at about 3,000 feet above a gorge that vacationers can peer over.
Colorado River, which lies west of this overlook, is also a fantastic sight from this atop the platform. The scenic landscape in this area was carved by lava flows eight million years ago. Don’t be surprised if you see boaters enjoying the river as you view the surrounding areas.
